Sidewalk to Nowhere
 

Over the past 3 weeks or so we have seen the development of a large sidewalk along route 44 that starts in Wildwood and has gone well past lake Okahumpka park, is now terminated somewhere near the Continental Clubhouse with excavation almost to Morse. Does anyone have an idea why? This seems like a huge waste in Sumter tax money.

Don Wiley posted somewhere that this is not a county project but funded solely by the state.

ETA: This is what Don posted:

The sidewalk being installed along SR44 is being done by the State, with State funds, Sumter County had zero say in the work and has zero cost in the project. The project also has zero value to almost everyone in the county.

Wasted Cash
 

Ah, likely part of the awesome Infrastructure Bill? I guess we all pay for the waste.

Maybe some people living along route 44 will use the path to ride bikes or to walk to beautiful Lake Okahumpka Park.

No, not part of the bill. You are guessing………..

my brother in law needs a job...

I’ll take the sidewalk to nowhere over the million dollar per mile Lake Miona walking trail. At least you can bring your dog with you on the sidewalk to nowhere.

That path connects two small trailer parks to the Chevy Dealer and Sparr.

Sounds like a path that I would ride my bike on. If it is only useful to a small number of people then it should not use public money. There are many government projects that would never see the light of day if that were the criterion.

One major feature missing around Brownwood is a multiuse trail or path that prohibits motor vehicles.

I spent many of afternoons on The Little Econ Trail in Orange County and it was always crowded.

Amen……Ill conceived project. Barely walk side by side.

Maybe Cement contractors need a place to dump excess product to clean out mixer???

Looking forward to taking a nice long walk on the sidewalk when it is done.

The sidewalk is part of the construction/resurfacing project of SR44 from US301 to the Sumter county/Lake county line, connecting the city of Wildwood, future business development along Buena Vista, and Lake Okahumpka.

Granted, a tangent (remotely related) ...
 

There is a well designed and well built sidewalk that appears completed on US Hwy 441 South around Griffin Road/Avenida Central and Rolling Acres Road—that is perpetually closed. What's the point? I must be missing something....

Sidewalk
 

Federal law includes sidewalks in most highway projects in or near communities. The idea is to keep pedestrians and bicycles etc off the highways. Do I agree with it, no. But it is your Federal dollars at work. There’s federal money in every state highway, so they need to follow federal guidelines.

:rolleyes: Could you please STOP confusing the complainers with facts....... :icon_wink:

I had heard that the sidewalk will end by the Lake Deaton Bridge. It's for the homeless to have a safer way to access to/from 301, Sparr, McDonalds, Brownwood, etc

County, state or federal, it is our money and it looks to be pretty stupid.

It is nice to be able to walk places instead of driving around all the time. Europeans have a walking culture and many cities have places for people to walk or cycle. Americans are an obese group because nobody walks farther than from a restaurant to their car. Many places in the US are dangerous to walk around. Our whole road and traffic patterns are made for automobiles and trucks only. I think it is a good idea to spend money on sidewalks. Why only spend billions on putting in cardiac stents, treating people for stroke and diabetes, etc.?

What's wrong with having a Villages walking trail where one can enjoy walking WITHOUT dogs in the same place?

It makes it easier (and safer) for the people at Continental to drive their golf carts to Brownwood.

I noticed yesterday that it appears to be going all the way down to The Villages Grown now!

Amazing at the whining that goes on because the city is getting improvements. Sidewalks are needed when there is future planning of business development. Several plots of land have been sold along 44 for new businesses. Now is the time to upgrade, when doing the highway changes. I bet many of you aren’t even aware of the current construction happening now of Buena Vista being extended further south across highway 44, all the way down to Meggison.

Sidewalks are often constructed to comply with the Federal ADA law (Americans with Disabilities Act). The law requires pedestrian access to many facilities, and it is very detailed regarding where sidewalks are required and how they are constructed. That is why you often see sidewalks being constructed where they appear to be unnecessary. I think the ADA law was probably cited as justification for the sidewalk along Route 44.

After reading this thread I have clarification of what a “sidewalk superintendent” really means.:smiley:

Nothing wrong with the infrastructure bill, just how the state chooses to use it.

It is so people from TV can walk or bike to the park Okahumpa and enjoy the paths and trails.

Email response from Wildwood City Manager
 

Coincidentally we emailed the Wildwood City Manager about this just a few days ago. This was his response...

Sent: Wed, Nov 16, 2022 10:28 am
Subject: RE: Sidwalk along 44

Mr. Lupini:

Thank you for your email and inquiry. The sidewalk is part of the FDOT’s resurfacing project on SR 44. It’s not a City project, so I can merely speculate why FDOT felt it prudent to include sidewalk in the project. It’s likely due to the forecasted urbanization on SR 44 and likelihood that the corridor will warrant a sidewalk in the not-so-distant future. They tend to design and construct with the future in mind. I’d argue that’s a smart business move.

Of note, they will be doing a similar project on US 301 from C-521 to SR 44 (sidewalk and resurfacing).

You will need to reach out to FDOT for a more formal answer. Let me know if you need a contact at FDOT, and I will provide you with one.

Regards,

Jason F. McHugh, CPM, AICP
City Manager

Return sidewalk
 

After they are done with this sidewalk to nowhere, are they going to construct another sidewalk on the north side so you can get back after going nowhere? :loco:

My guess probably not. Why would you think they would?

So, today I go to Leesburg and after turning east on 44 off Morse, I see that the sidewalk is being continued eastbound parallel to 44.

Sure looks like a very big waste of money that could have been spent more wisely…..

See if there was a Sheldon sarcasm sign, instead of crazy eyes, you would have laughed

I agree with you. Maybe I would have added that those only walking from the car to the restaurant also try to find the closest spot they can! (Of course we are excluding those who cannot / or are in pain - we are talking about lazy & selfish as they are taking nearby spots from those who need them).

A lot of money is spent to comply with the Federal ADA law for people with disabilities. For most Federal projects, you need to demonstrate a measurable benefit-to-cost ratio of greater than one, using an accepted economical analysis. So, the benefits must exceed the cost. Otherwise, the project is rejected. However, compliance with the ADA law does not require a benefit-to-cost analysis. It mandates certain construction features regardless of the benefits when compared to the cost. So, you may need to spend millions of dollars on a sidewalk that almost no one will use. For those who create and support disability laws, it is their intention to bypass the normal benefit-to-cost economical anaIysis.

Where to ???????????????????
NOWHERE !!!!!!!!

If you are going NOWHERE, What does matter !!!

///////

Just as bad as the bike lanes in Wildwood on 466A. Iv'e never seen ANYBODY using them. What a waste of money and space. The sidewalks on 44 seem very ill conceived and poorly implemented. Should have been integrated into the reconstruction rather than what looks like a totally haphazard manner.

Here’s the link to the project flyer. It is a state project.

https://www.cflroads.com/project-fil...er_Final-1.pdf